Growing and Training Wisteria

Big and beautiful, wisteria is the queen of climbers. Here, get tips for developing a beautiful plant and controlling its vigor.

Excerpted from How to Grow Practically Everything
Filed under: How To, Vines, Fragrant Plants

Reduce New Shoots

Once stems are tied in, cut back all other growth to about 12 inches from where it sprouts. Restricting growth and allowing sunlight and air to ripen the young stems helps promote flowering the following year.

Winter Pruning

For best results, prune again in late winter. First identify any long, sappy stems that sprouted after pruning in summer, and prune them back to about five buds away from the main branch, cutting just above a bud.

Spur Prune

Then, shorten the shoots that were pruned in the summer even farther, back to two or three buds. Look carefully for the fat, round flower buds, and avoid cutting these off. Foliage buds, which can be removed, are slimmer and pointed.